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From his office a few steps from the White House, Ron Kirk, the Dallas mayor turned trade ambassador, now presides over the government's elite cadre of diplomats and litigators trained to fend off piracy, deter dumping and pry open markets for American products from beef to wheat to tractors.

Federal prosecutors on Thursday announced a settlement with Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson over allegations that a nonprofit founded by the former NBA star used federal money to pay volunteers for jobs including political activities, running personal errands and washing Johnson's car.